Anthony Albanese blasts government as chemists struggle to source RAT kits

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has criticised the government’s preparedness around rapid antigen tests on his visit to Tasmania, as pharmacies struggle to obtain stock.

FEDERAL Labor leader Anthony Albanese has criticised the government’s preparedness around rapid antigen tests on his visit to Tasmania, as pharmacies struggle to obtain stock.

President of the Tasmanian branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and owner of the Riverside Pharmacy, Helen O’Byrne, said she and her colleagues had faced many challenges during the pandemic, and access to rapid antigen tests was one of the main “micro-frustrations”.

“We unfortunately don’t have any stock of rapid antigen tests to be able to offer that community,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“We are hoping to get stuff in over the coming weeks, but it’s going to be very sporadic.

“And we don’t actually have any information about when stock will be reliably available, so that’s quite frustrating for ourselves and our staff and our customers.”

A Commonwealth program for concession and pension card holders to access RAT kits for free will begin on Monday.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese visits Terry White Chemist Riverside. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Albanese said ahead of the program starting, pharmacists had been left on their own to source tests.

He said the shortage should have been foreseen by the government.

“So they are making them free, but they are not available,” Mr Albanese said.

“On Monday, concession card holders will rock up, expect to get access to a rapid antigen test for free and they won’t be able to, because there’s no supply.

“They simply don’t exist at this pharmacy and in so many pharmacies right around Tasmania, and indeed, right around the country.”

The pharmacy guild was also concerned Tasmanian pharmacists were the only state or territory unable to administer the vaccine to children.

She said the Riverside Pharmacy had capacity to vaccinate 40 to 50 people a day.

“We urge our state government to change that so that pharmacists can offer access to time for parents to be able to vaccinate their children before they go back to school,” Ms O’Byrne said.